Apparatus for the production of flame-extinguishing gases.



R. 'SGHEUPFGEN. APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF FLAME EXTINGUISHING GASES. AIPLIOATION FILED JAN. 21, 1908. I 91 8,201 Patented Apr. 13, 1909.

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R. SGHBUFFGEN. A APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OPFLAME EXTINGUISHING GASES.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 21, 1908.

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R. SGHEUFFGEN. APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF FLAME EXTINGUISHING GASES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 21, 1908.

Patented Apr. 13, 1909.

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UNITE STATER PATNT OFFTCE.

APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF FLAME-EXTINGUISHING GASES.

Application filed January 21, 1908.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 13, 1909.

Serial No. 412,001.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ROBERT SonEUFFeEN,

engineer, subject of the King of Prussia, re l siding at Salskotten, near Paderborn, 1n Ger- 1 many, have invented new and useful improvements in an Apparatus for the Production of Flame EXtinguishing Gases, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is an improved apparatus for the production of fiame extinguishing gases for reducing the risks of combustion and explosion in which a loosely journaled reservoir to contain a fluid is fitted in a container provided with suitable gas producing salts. "When this reservoir is tipped on one side the contents run out on to the salts below thereby causing an intense development of carbonic acid or other flame extinguishing gases.

The present invention is differentiated from existing apparatus for this purpose by the arrangement for the release of the parts which hold the fluid reservoir fixed in an unstable position, which is so arranged that any automatic release of such parts through knocks, swinging, or vibration and the consequent unintentional development of fire extinguishing gases are prevented. The special arrangement of these parts makes the invention suitable for apparatus of any construction whether operated by hand or mech anically, but they are best adapted for operation by electricity. The releasing arrangement is also adapted for apparatus in whicn the fluid reservoir falls over on the fusion of a soldered connection or a connection made by a metal alloy fusible at low temperature.

The invention also consists in the construction of the case containing the swinging fluid holder and the releasing arrangement in such a manner that an effective and uniform distribution of the flame quenching gases in all directions is insured.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which one form of the invention is illustrated.

Figure 1. is a vertical section through the complete apparatus. Fig. 2. side view partly in section of releasing arrangement for the fluid holderj Fig. 3. plan of same. Fig. 4. sectional view showing a modification.

The fire extinguishing arrangement consists of a case or chamber 1 of any desired shape and material which is closed at the top by a flat cover 3 which, by means of eccen trically journaled bends 4 is pressed against Y the rim 2 of the case, rings 5 of packing being red between them. This cover is provided in the center with a pipe 6 having holes 7 in the sides intended for the outlet of the gases to be developed. This pipe carries a nonperforated cover 8 which is flat at the top and is convex at the bottom, the special advantage of the shape being that in spite of the rapid developments of the gases they are distributed in a fan-shaped mass when they are emitted. In order to prevent any particles of the fluid or salts being carried along with the gases, perforated metal fittings 9 of cylindrical or conical shape, or both are fixed under the cover. These may be replaced by or combined with suitable sets of screens.

At the bottom of the case or chamber 1, suitable salts, preferably carbonates such as marble and the like are placed while approximately in the middle of the container or chamber 1, the reservoir 10 filled with acid or other fluid is loosely pivoted. The latter may consist either entirely of vulcanized rubber or may be lined inside with a layer of hard rubber 1.1 and is preferably provided with a detachable hard rubber cover .12, which by means of clamps 13 is held securely to the reservoir and contains perforations 14:. This reservoir is provided in the center with a pipe 16 preferabl of rubber which opens into a rubber funne for pouring in the acid. The inside of the reservoir is filled with a suitable liquid, preferably an acid, which when the reservoir is tipped over runs through the holes14 on to the sa ts lying at the bottom of the chamber or container 1 and thereby causes the necessary development of gases for extinguishing purposes.

The releasing arrangement for the tipping reservoir 10 is pivoted on a bracket 17 attached by any suitable means to the inside of the container 1 and consists primarily of a lever 26 bent approximately to U shape in the center and pivoted on a pin 25. To this lever a pin 11 projecting from a hole in the side of the case is rigidly attached and on the end of this pin an armature 24 for an electromagnet 23 is fixed. The electro-magnet 23 which is mounted on a bracket 38 attached to the outside of the container 1 operates the disengaging arrangement. Instead of same any other form of mechanism operated by hand or power may be used. The electromagnet may be operated in various ways say by closing the circuit, by hand 01 by a thermometer, the quicksilver in which will close the circuit at a given temperature, or finally by any other signal arrangement. As soon as the electro-magnet 23 is excited it attracts the armature 24 and consequently causes the double lever 26 to move out of the position shown in full lines in 2, into that shown in dotted lines.

Wl hile the bottom end of the lever 26 is ivoted on the pin 25 the upper end of same is pressed 'l'orv .rd under the action of an S shaped rod 31, 32, 33. The part 31 which rests against the end of the levr 26 is arranged to swing out around the part 33 as a center which is suitably pivoted. The fr -e end of the latter carries a lever 34 on which a counterweight 36 is hung either lay nit ms of a wire 35 or in some other way. When the electro-magnet 23 acts upon he armature 24 the bent lever 26 swings backward overcoming the resistance of the cminterweight 36. As soon as the effect of the electro-magnet ceases the lever 26 moves back into the position shown in Fig. 2 owing to the influence of the counterweight 36.

A stop or latch 22 engages in the bend of the lever 26 which stop is preferably of rectangular cross-section and pivoted on a pin 30 resting in. cheeks 42 oil the brac et 17. hen in the position ready for action as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the latch 22 er -gag between two projections or stops 21 tached to the outside of the reservoir 16. On the other end of the latch a weight 29 is suspended by means of pins 27 on a rod 28 which weight, as soon r the end of the latch 2 ceases to eng: e in the bend of the lever 26 causes the latch to swing into the position shown in dotted lines in dig.

'1 he weight 29 hangs in a case 37 in such a way that when it is subjected to aswinging motion (say for instance when the apparatus is used on ships) it can move freely to a certain extent and can thus always make the effect of its weight felt in the way intended upon the latch. In the same way the weight 36 which engages with the free end of the lever 34 hangs in a case 40.

Instead of the two weights 29 and 36 suitably adjusted springs may be used.

The manner in which the arrangement operates is as follows :Vhen ready for use the reservoir 10 is supported inside the container 1 by the pivots 20 and is secured in this position by the latch 22 which enters between the stops 21 attached to the sides of the holder. At the same time the latch 23 remains with that end which is farthest away from the reservoir 10 subject to the action of the lever 26 (Fig. 2) the bend of the latter inclosing the end of the latch. The lever 26 is held in this position by the bent rod 31, 32, 33 which is under the influence of the weight As soon as the circuit of the electromagnets 20 is closed the effect on the armature 24 causes the lever 26 to swing backward overcoming the effect of the weight 36, so that the bend of the lever 26 releases the end of the latch which it had hitherto previously held fast. The latter therefore actuated by the weight 29 swings around in such a way that that end of the latch 22 which is turned away from the lever 26 comes out of engagement with the stops 21. T he reservoir 16 thus loses its support and under the action of its own weight swings out of its unstable pcsition in such a way that its contents are poured upon the salts celow. As soon as the circuit of the electro--1nagnets is interrupted the weight 36 causes the bent rod 31, 32, 33 to swing out and with it the lever 26, so that the armature 24 is again raised by the electro-magnets. The latch is restored to the position shown in Fig. 2, simultaneously with the restoration of the res ervoir to its original position.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4 the swinging back of the bent lever, 26, is due, not to an electro-magnet or any other force acting from the outside, but by separation of an extensionlwiece 44, of said lever, (at the other side of the pivot 25) which is firmly connected to a projection or the like, 45, attached to the outside of the container 1, by means of a light solder or other fusible connection 46. 'lhe strength of this connection is so calculated that at a normal temperature, it is greater than the tension of a spring 43 which exerts a pull on the extremity of a lever 42. The lever 42 is rigidly connected with the bent rod 31, 32, 33 being preferably an extension thereof. As soon as the external temperature exceeds a certain height the resistance of the fusible connection disappears so that the tension of the spring 43, which latter may if desired be replaced by a weight, overcomes the strength of the connection 46 and makes the bent lever 26 swing backward in such a way that the end of the latch 22 which normally engages with the bend of this lever 26 is released. In other respects the method in which the modifica tion shown in Fig. 4 works is the same as that shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1 claim is 1. In an apparatus for the production of flame extinguishing gases, a casing, a reservoir tiltably supported therein, a latch for normally holding said reservoir against tilting, means including a lever having a bent portion which normally engages the latch and maintains the latter in reservoir-holding position, and means for causing operation of said lever.

2. In an apparatus for the production of flame extinguishing gases, a casing, a reservoir tiltably supported therein, a latch for normally holding said reservoir against tilting, a weight having a swinging connection with said latch and tending to move said latch to free the reservoir, a lever for releasing the latch, and a weight, suspended so as to have a free swinging motion, for exerting a pull upon said lever.

l. In an apparatus for the production of flame extinguishing gases, a casing having a perforated pipe extending from its top, an

' arched plate at and slightly separated from the emission end of said plate for spreading the'emitted gases fanwise in all directions, and means for preventing the discharge of particles of fluid and salts with of the gases, in combination with a reservoir tiltably supported within the casing.

5. In an apparatus for the production of flame extinguishing gases, a casing having a perforated pipe extending from its top, an arched plate at and slightly separated from the emission end of said plate for spreading the emitted gases fanwise in all directions, and perforated plates within the casing for preventing the discharge of particles of fluid and salts with the emission of the gases, in combination with a reservoir tiltably supported within the casing.

6. In an apparatus for the production of lllime-extinguishing gas, a stationary rel l i i l i l l l the emission ceptacle containing normally neutral material adapted to develop the gas when acted upon by a suitable chemical fluid, a fluid containing reservoir mounted therein in unstable equilibrium, a weight-controlled latchlever for said reservoir pivotally mounted in a plane at right angles to that in which the reservoir tilts, locking members attached to the reservoir for engaging one arm of the latch-lever, a weight-controlled stop-lever engaging the other arm of the latch-lever, the bearings, the locking, the stopping and releasing mechanism for the reservoir, being all embraced within the said receptacle, in combination with means extending outside the receptacle for actuating the releasing mechanism of the fluid reservoir, substantially as set forth.

7. In an apparatus for the production of flame extinguishing gas, a fluid reservoir, a stationary casing tiltably supporting said reservoir, and holding a chemical adapted to develop gas, locking members attached to the reservoir, a latch engaging the locking members, stop mechanism and releasing mechanism all embraced within and supported by the stationary casing, in combination with means partly external to the casing, for actuating the releasing mechanism, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT SGHEUFFGEN.

Vi itnesses:

HENRY Hasrnn, lVoLDEMAR HA'UPT. 

